96.

Ro grabbed the helm without even a moment to think. As she reflexively blocked the spinning wheel, a sharp, dizzying pain shot up to her elbow. Clenching her teeth, Ro clung to the helm and spat out a curse.

“You damn idiot! Are you spacing out on purpose?”

“Uh, uh…….”

“You’re putting all the force yourself! Damn it, the ship’s tipping over! Wrap it more to the left!”

She screamed at the top of her lungs. If the ship veered sharply right from this point, it would crash directly into the wall where wrecked vessels were haphazardly piled together. If they got caught in there, there’d be no saving the ship. Ro kicked Melvin’s shin hard as he still hadn’t snapped out of his daze.

“Wake up already?”

“Ow, ow…….”

Ro glared and clicked her tongue. What an airhead! If she could, she’d have already thrown a punch. But with both hands locked onto the helm, that was an impossible wish. Finally regaining his senses, Melvin tightly gripped beneath her hands and added his strength. The hull sharply turned, the sails tilted, and a creaking sound echoed. As the ship listed, bodies and crew alike swayed, causing a brief uproar.

“Hold tight just like that!”

Now, all she could do was pray. Please, please, miss it!

Crrrrrrrrr.

The right side of the hull scraped against the wrecks, producing the sound of structural damage. Not a loud *crunch* or a deep *thud*, but a dry, gritty *scrape*.

Judging from her extensive combat experience at sea, this indicated a relatively shallow surface damage to the hull. Crew members near the starboard side raised both arms high, drawing a circle in the air toward her. A signal that the damage was minor and there was no water leakage. Thankfully, they had narrowly avoided disaster. Ro let out a short sigh.

“Now ease it slowly. Slightly back to the right, then release. That’s it…….”

Melvin, thoroughly frightened, faithfully followed her instructions. The hull wobbled again, then finally stabilized on the correct course. Only then did Ro feel safe enough to let go of the helm. Checking the compass, she confirmed they were back on the right path. It helped that this route was one she had frequently traveled……. She had been wondering what fool would steer the helm like that in the fog, but apparently, she didn’t need to look far—the culprit was right here.

“…….”

“…….”

Under her icy glare, Melvin flinched and instinctively raised his hand to protect his shin. Ro didn’t miss a beat—she sharply tugged his right ear.

“Ow, ow!”

Melvin flailed his right hand, making a loud fuss. Ro stared him down with narrowed eyes.

“Well? Trying to let go again? Can’t you hold it properly?”

“I, I messed up, Captain!”

“Who the hell drives a ship like that? Huh?”

“J-just wait a second! It hurts like hell! My ear’s gonna fall off!”

“Someone like you wouldn’t miss one ear.”

Gritting her teeth, Ro finally released his ear. Seeing Melvin wince and rub his right ear, she felt a sudden pang of nostalgia for past glories. In the old days, she’d have cut off one of his ears as an example. Really, she’d gone soft……. Ro clicked her tongue in annoyance and issued orders to the scrambling crew.

“We’re docking soon! Fold every last sail.”

She heard the frozen crew scurrying about, groaning and shouting. It wasn’t just the ship’s rough handling—having seen far too many pirate flags along the way had left them visibly shaken.

Soon, the hull gently came to a stop at the jutting dock. At the last moment, Melvin had at least regained his senses. Crewmen who realized they’d arrived at their destination bustled about, preparing to dock.

“Drop the anchor!”

“Release the capstan!”

“Ropes!”

Ro vaulted nimbly off the ship, overriding the noisy chaos. Stepping onto the sturdy platform made of haphazardly nailed wooden planks, she truly felt she had entered the Ship’s Graveyard. Melvin hurriedly scrambled down behind her.

“Captain! Let me come with you!”

“Stay here. Just get Turner for me. And tell the crew not to wander around.”

At her words, Melvin called out to one of the crew to fetch Turner. Then, with a suspicious look, he added,

“Is he really enough? Maybe I should come too…….”

Ro shook her head.

“They must’ve used up supplies during the voyage, so get some provisions stocked. Even if it’s just rum.”

“You know this place is a total rip-off, right?”

“We’ll get what we can while we can. Oh, and…….”

Ro grabbed Melvin by the back of the neck and whispered into his ear.

“Keep a close eye on that guy Hugo.”

“Huh? Him?”

“He’s got a nose like a damn dog. Probably one of that man’s underlings.”

“A dog?”

“There are types like that.”

Ro released Melvin’s collar as Turner approached. Seeing this, Turner let out a comical whistle.

“What’s this? Getting cozy?”

“Enough joking. Just watch my back. I’ve got places to go.”

“……You’re really going to wander around here?”

Turner burst into loud laughter and scanned the Ship’s Graveyard. To be honest, it was one of the eeriest sights in the world. Every time the wind blew, tangled masts creaked and groaned, and torn pirate flags fluttered everywhere. Ro muttered a warning as she secured two well-maintained revolvers at her waist.

“Follow carefully. Don’t touch anything.”

“If you say so.”

Anyway, she’d be entering the bank alone, so as long as no unnecessary trouble started on the way there, it’d be fine. Among pirates, where rumors spread fast, word had likely already spread that she was Lady Montrosa, the young duchess…….

Unless some freak with a fish head instead of a skull showed up, she wasn’t in real danger—but this was just her precaution. There was an agreement among pirates not to use force within the Ship’s Graveyard, but ‘Lea Lunox Valdemore’ was not bound by that agreement.

Ro walked the familiar path with unfamiliar steps. The artificial island, the Ship’s Graveyard, remained unchanged. On the right side of the island stood a shabby inn and grimy stalls; on the left, the docking area. She had wondered where all the pirate ships had gone, but seeing them swarming here, it seemed they’d all fled to escape the war.

Given how packed it was with ships, she’d expect the inner island to be teeming with people too, but surprisingly, few were walking around. Everyone seemed ready to set sail at a moment’s notice.

“This way.”

Ro chose the least damaged path and walked ahead. Soon, a relatively intact and spacious plaza appeared, followed by a two-story shack on top of long stairs, looking like it was about to collapse. Its exterior was pure camouflage—beneath it, hidden deep under the sea, lay a vault…… the offshore bank. Ro stopped at the foot of the stairs and turned to Turner.

“Wait here.”

He looked at her and the building, utterly dumbfounded.

“……You’re going in there alone?”

Ro sized Turner up from head to toe. He was sturdy-built, and judging by his face, he wasn’t the type to get picked on easily.

“Judging by your looks, no one’s gonna mess with you, but if it feels dangerous, run.”

“……And leave you behind?”

“Exactly. It’s your life on the line—don’t be stupidly loyal. Inside is safe. Anyone who commits a violent crime in the bank is branded a sworn enemy of the Maritime League.”

Safe……. Turner let out a hollow laugh, as if the word amused him. Ro, puzzled, crossed her arms and stood with one hip cocked, giving him a sideways look. After a moment, Turner stopped laughing, reached up, and casually ruffled her hair like she was a child.

“Go on. But I’m not leaving.”

“What? Why?”

“Dead or alive, I’m staying right here. If you don’t like it, then go ahead and ditch me.”

Ditch me. Hearing that, she briefly felt as if she were abandoning him—but that must’ve been her imagination. What a ridiculous man. Ro scoffed, swatted his hand away from her head, and looked him up and down with a sour expression.

“You too…… did you get paid by River?”

“What?”

“Never mind, forget it.”

Grabbing anyone and suspecting them was a sickness. Ro sighed and climbed the worn-out stairs. At the very top, a man with a red nose was snoring loudly. He was the bank’s gatekeeper. Ro took a deep breath and carefully opened the door made of haphazardly nailed planks.

Creeeak.

The door, clearly never oiled, screeched open with an unpleasant sound. Ro blinked slowly, suddenly blinded by the bright light. After a moment, her eyes adjusted to the interior. Gleaming marble floors that looked freshly polished, smooth marble pillars, and an elegant chandelier. The opulence was unimaginable from the crumbling exterior.

At the far end of the marble corridor, supported by pillars, stood a podium where a man with glasses perched on his nose was busily reading documents. Ro cautiously crossed the corridor. Right now, her presence went unnoticed…… but in her days as the ‘Red Dawn,’ she could feel the powerful figures lurking in every shadow of this dim passage.

As she approached, the man in glasses looked up.